Leather-splitting machine



(No' Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 1.

w. E. ADAMS.

LEATHER SPLITTING MACHINE.

Patented Feb. 21, 1888.

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. B. ADAMS.

. LEATHER SPLITTING MAUHINE. .No. 378,157. Pateglted Feb. 21, 1888;

WELEESS E5 (No Model.) r 7 Sheets-Shet 3. W. E. ADAMS.

LEATHER SPLITTING MACHINE.

Patented Feb. 21, 1888.

WWW 1 WI: asses QM- W (No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 4.

W. E. ADAMS.

LEATHER SPLITTING MACHINE.

No.. 378,157. Patented Feb. 21, 1888.

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 5. W. E. ADAMS.

LEATHER SPLITTING MACHINE.

Patented Feb. 21, 1888.

MAL- Wdiw.

N PETERS. mwwuum mm, wmm m n. c.

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 6. W. E. ADAMS.

LEATHER SPLITTING MACHINE. No. 378,157. Pa nted Feb. 21, 1888.

Wit E55ES NV Firms, Phuhvlilhogmphcn Washmgwn, D C.

(No Model.)

- 7 S11eets Sheet 7. W. E. ADAMS.

LEATHER SPLITTING MACHINE.

N0. 378,157. Patented Feb. 21, 1888.

iinirnn TATES PATEN rricn.

\VILLIAM E. ADAMS, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

LEATHER -SPLITTiNG MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 378,157, dated February 21, 1888. Application filed April 7, 1886. Serial No. 198,102. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it vita-y concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. ADAMS, of Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Leather-Splitting Machines, of which the foilowingis a specification, reference being had to the drawings accompanying and forming a part hereof, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view with the cover of the machine thrown back. Fig. 2 is a front elevation. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation. Fig. 4: is an end elevation from the right of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an end elevation from the left of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section on line .r w, 1 Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a transverse section. Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively a longitudinal and transverse section, showing modifications.

The object of my invention is the construc tion of a compact, simple, and durable machine for utilizing irregularly shaped and small scraps or pieces of leather by lessening their thickness and increasing their superficial area; and it consists in a series of devices arranged as hereinafter set forth for first trimming the irregularly-shaped piece to a straight edge at one side, then splitting it, except along the straight edge, where a narrow hinge is left, then opening the .flaps or halves of the split piece until they are in the same plane substantially, then pressing them while so open or spread, causing them to remain in this position, and forming a single flat piece having two or more times the area of the original unsplit piece.

5 I will describe my invention as embodied in the machine shown in the accompanying drawings, using like letters of reference to indicate like parts.

The frame part A is of a suitable box shape 40, to support the working parts of the machine and to inelose and protect the same, and is supported on legs B. A driving-shaft,(), journaled in supports S,secured to either end of the frame, is provided at the end with fast and loose belt-pulleys E. Inside these pulleys and outside the frame A a pinion, F, is secured to the driving-shaft O. A similar pinion, F, is fast on the shaft 0 at the other end of the machine.

On the main shaft G and secured thereto is the beveled pinion G, which meshes with abeveled gear, H, fast on the shaft of the presser-roll 9,

set at right angles to the main shaft, and which operates a series of rolls which are set at right angles to the main feed-rolls, and which will be hereinafter more fully described. The pinion F is'in mesh with a train of gears, J

K L, and the corresponding pinion, F, at the other end of the machine is correspondingly in mesh with a similar train of gears, J K. (See Figs. 4 and 5.) The gear L is in mesh with a large gear, M, which is fast on the shaft N of one of the upper feed-rolls, N, while the gear K at the other end of the machine is in mesh with a large gear, M, fast to the shaft P of the companion feed-roll P. The number of gears in the trains at either end of the machine which actuate the feed-roll shafts P N is obviously unessent-ial; but I prefer the number shown. The shafts P and N are journaled in adjustable boxes set in slots in the ends of the frame A. (See Figs. 1, 5, and 6.) These slots are larger than the combined width of the boxes, which are of a size to bring the feed-rolls P N very near together when the boxes are in contact, and between the boxes and the ends of the slot the spiral springs 19, (see Fig. 5,) are set, one end of each spring bearing against the block and the other end being provided with a cap, q, (see Fig. 7,) against which an adjusting-screw, 7*, which is set through the frame, bears. By setting up these screws greater pressure is exerted on the boxes, and the rolls P N are consequently held more firmly together-that is, they will exert a stronger bite on the piece of leather passing between them.

.As will be obvious, it is important that when the feed rolls P N separate to admit a thick piece of leather they both move from the center and both slide an equal or proportionate distance from the splitting-knife. To insure this, I have provided equalizers at either end of the machine, which consist of the arms t, (see Figs. 4 and 5, which are j ournaled at thei r upper ends to either end of each of the feed-roll boxes, and at their lower ends are pivoted on the same pivot to a vertical sliding block, a, set in avertical slot in the end of the frame of the machine. The upper ends of the equalizers may be pivoted directly to the shafts P N; but I prefer to pivot them to the boxes, as shown and above described. The ends of the equalizers are split, as at If, and provided with clamping-screws to take up the wear as it 0c curs. As the feed-rolls are separated by the entrance between them of a thick piece of leather, forcing the laterally-sliding blocks of their shafts apart, the vertically-sliding blocks a of the equalizers must rise, and they cannot rise unless the laterally-sliding blocks of the shafts of both feed-rolls move outward or separate. Consequently when the feed-rolls are separated the blocks a rise, and both rolls move outward or away from the splittingknife an equal or proportionate distance.

The top of the machine is provided with a cover, 0, hinged thereto at S, (see Fig. 1,) and the cover has journaled in it a shaft which carries a third feed-roll, R, and also a gear, It, which, when the cover is closed, is in mesh with the gear S fast to shaft N. The cover is also provided with an inclined table, U, (see Fig. 7,) onto which the pieces of leather to be split are placed in order to be conveniently fed into the rolls It P N. On the cover is also secured, in a suitable support, V, the trimmingknife W, which acts, as the irregular piece of leather is fed between the rolls R and P, to straighten the edge at one side of the piece before it is carried down onto the splitting-knife. The feed-rolls R P N 'are preferably corrugated or grooved, as shown, ontheir surfaces, in order to better feed the leather forward, and they are also very slightly larger in diameter at the end toward the trimmingknife 7, in order that the leather, as it is fed forward, may be crowded slightly against the trimming-knife and against the edge-guide a as it passes the end of the splitting-knife b. The edge-gnide a is fast to a support, 0, (see Fig. 6,) which is mounted on a cross-piece, d,

resting on the base of the frame of the ma-.

chine. The guide a may be set vertically that is, parallel with the ends of the feedrollsor it may incline slightly away from the feed-rolls at its lower end if it is desired to get a greater space at that point between it and the splitting-knife, and thus ease the stock as it passes downward and cause it to feed more freely. The splitting-knife b is set vertically, and its edge projects between the feedrolls P N, (see Fig. 7,) so as to receive the piece of leather to be split directly from the nip of the rolls. The splittingknifeis mounted on a support or small frame, e, which rests on the bed of the main frame A, the shank of the knife being bolted, as at a, Fig. 6, to the upper part, 6, of the support e. The bolt a passes through the vertical slot I) in the knife to permit of its vertical adjustment.

Below the knife are set two adjusting-screws, c,which are set in the supportand bear against the lower edge of the shank of the knife. To adjust the knife Vertically it is only necessary to loosen the nut on the bolt to and move the adj ll-Siilllg-SCFBWS c c. To provide for the adjustment of the knife, so as to bring the splitting-edge nearer to one of the feed-rolls P. N than the other, as is necessary when theleather is not to be split centrally, and also to provide for the adjustment of the knife nearer to or far- .ther from the edge-guide a, in order to leave a greater or less width of hinge at the unsplit edge of the piece of leather, I have provided a cross-shaped piece. (Shown in section at d, Figs. 6 and 8.) The arms d of this crossshaped piece project downward below the other portion and lie in a corresponding groove in the bed of the frame, (see Fig. 6,) while the other portion of the piece, at right angles to the arms, lies above the bed of the frame, and is received in aslot, f, on the under side of the knife and opener-support 6. One end of the arms d is in contact with an adjusting-screw, g, Fig. 2, which projects through the front of the frame, and by turning this screw the piece d and the knife supported thereon may be moved and its edge set at any point between the feed-rolls P N, as desired. Another adjusting-screw, h, Fig. 2, is set in the end of the frame, and projects into the knife and opener support e, and by turning this screw the support 6 slides on the piece (1 and on the bed of the frame, and the knife and opener may be adjusted simultaneously toward or from the edge-guide a.

Directly at the end of thesplitting-knife, and under the edge-guide a, an opener, f, is secured to the knifesupport c. This opener is narrowed at its upper end nearest the edgeof the knife I), so that it is but little broader than the edge of the knife, and itflares downwardly until at its lower portionit presentsa flat surface.

The object of the opener is to receive the piece of leather which has been split to a hinge at. the edge immediately after it has passed the knife and open and spread the flaps or halves, and the upper narrow part of the opener,entering between the flaps of the split piece, the piece is carried downward over it, and the flaps as they pass over the increasing flare of the opener are opened and spread outward into the same plane, and are thus presented in a fiat sheet or piece to the pressingrolls 9 it directly beneath the opener, and are by these rolls pressed and setin the same plane, thus forming a fiat piece having twice the area of the unsplit piece.

The rolls g and h are mounted on shafts journaled in boxes z, set in the frame A, and are slightly larger in diameter at the central portions, in order to exert a greater pressure on the stock at the unsplit or hinged part.

Between the boxes of the shaft of roll it and the adjacent face of the piece j are set spiral springs j, which tend to hold the boxes against the boxes of the shaft of the companion roll 9, so that if the piece 9' be moved toward the boxes the pressure of the rolls on the leather passing between them will be increased. In order to dothis,Ihave pro vided asliding piece, t", which has two inclined or wedge-shaped flanges, k, Fig. 6, upon it, one at either end, which flanges act against reversely-inclined slots out in the adjacent face of piece j, which bears against the frame. On the otherside of the sliding piece is the piece j, which lies between thesliding piece and theboxesoftheshall ofroll it. An adjusting-screw, h set in an arm, is,

, on the front of the frame of the machine, (see 1 Fig. 2,) screws into a projection from the end of the piece t" and furnishes a means of moving the piece relatively to the other piecesjj. As the piece *5 is moved toward the frontof the machine, the wedge-shaped flanges on it force it toward, and the piece j" against, the boxes of the shaft of roll h, and so prevent the roll from moving farther away from its companion roll 9 than is desired when the stock is passing through, and thus any degree of pressure can be readily obtained.

The shaft of roll 1 carries the bevel-gear H, which, as previously described, is driven by the bevelpinion G fast on the main shaft G of the machine. Inside the beveled gear H, on the same shaft, is set the gear j, (see Figs. 1 and 3,) which meshes with the pinion K, which is fast on the shaft of the carrying-roll I, (see Fig. 6,) which is journaled in boxes m, set in an upright portion of the crosspiece d, (see Fig. 2,) and which are adapted to slide laterally in said upright part, thus allowing the carrying-roll to be adjusted relatively to the face of the opener. The carrying-roll is adapted to yield as thick pieces of leather pass it, by reason of the spiral springs jgplaced behind the boxes of the shaft of the roll, and bearing rearwardly against a cap, j which is actuated by an adjusting-screw, set in the frame. By setting up this screw the requisite pressure of the carrying-roll against the stock may be obtained. To prevent the roll from touching the opener and also to insure a bet ter adj ustment, a set-screw, is, set in the frame, bears against the other side of the journal boxes of its shaft. (See Fig. 2;) The carrying-roll Z is also corrugated or grooved, and acts on the stock passing the opener n, to insure its passage over the opener from the splitting-knife to the pressing-rolls. This roll is desirable lest very small pieces of leather should stick in the machine after passing the upper feed-rolls, P N.

The upper feed roll, It, is provided with a cover, A, (see Fig. 2,) secured to the cover 0 of the machine, which serves to protect the roll, as also to protect the operator. The cover 0 and the upper feed-roll, It, are not essential to the operation of the machine, but are a convenience to enable the operator to feed the pieces of leather into the machine from the table U. Figs. 8 and 9 show the machine as modified by the removal of the cover 0 and the upper roll. When these parts are removed, the trimming-knife W is modified in form, and is secured to the guide-standard c with the edge-guide a, the two parts being combined in one piece, if desired. The cutting-edge of the knife is in this case horizon tal, as shown at Fig. 9.

The operation of the machine is as follows: A piece of leather is laid on the table U and fed between the feed-rolls. As it passes the rolls it is trimmed by the trimming-knife to a straight line at oneedge, which edge is held against the guide a, while the piece is forced upon the splittingkniie, which splits it, eX- cept along the straight edge, where ahinge or unsplit port-ion is left. The piece of leather then passes on to the narrow end of the opener,

which gradually opens or separates the flaps of the piece into the same plane. The carrying-roll acts, as the leather passes the opener, to carry it down and insure its entering the presser-rolls, which press it and smooth it into a fiat piece. From the presser-rolls it drops into a chute or receptacle placed below to receive it.

I do not wish to be understood as claiming, broadly, the opener herein shown and described, or the combination of the opener and the splitting-knife, or the combination of the opener, the splitting-knife, and the feedingrolls, or the combination of the opener, the splitting-knife, the feeding-rolls, and the pressing-rolls, or the combination of the feed-rolls, an edge-straightening knife, a splitting-knife, and a gageor guide, or the combination of a feeding roll or rolls, a splitting-knife, and an edge straightening or trimming knife adjacent to one end of the said splitting-knife, with a space between said knives sufficient to leave a hinge in the scrap, or the combination of a splitting-knife, feed-rolls, a spreading-block or opener, a gage or guide and pressing-rolls, or the combination of a splitting-knife and feed-rolls, an edge-guide, a trimmingknife and feed-roll, aspreading-block or opener, and smoothing or pressing rolls, myinvention con sisting in the particular combinations, constructions, and arrangements ofparts hereinafter indicated by my claims.

\Vhat I claim is- 1 1. The combination, with the laterally-sliding boxes, in which are jonrnaled the feedroll shafts, of the equalizer-arms t, pivoted thereto at their upper ends and at their lower ends pivoted to the verticallysliding blocks a, for the purposes and substantially as set forth.

2. In a leathersplitting machine, the combination, with the main shaft G, having the gears F F and the beveled pinion G, of the feed-rolls N P, their shafts N and P, connected by gearing with the said gears F and F, the presser-roll 9, set at right angles to the rolls N and P, a shaft by which the said presser-roll is carried, and the beveled gear H on said shaft, substantially as set forth.

3. In a leather-splitting machine, the combination, with the feedrollers I N, of the vertical splitting-knife, its adjustable support 6, and the adj Listing-piece d and its operating screws, substantially as described.

4, In a leather-splitting machine, the combination, with the horizontal feed-rolls, the edge'guide, the vertical splitting-knife, and the opener, of the horizontal carrying-roll and pressing-rolls set at right angles to the said fecd'rolis, substantially as set forth.

5. In aleather-splitting machine, the presser bination, with the feed-rolls and edge-guide, to of a splitting-knife and opener secured to the same support, whereby their adjustment rela tive to said guide may be accomplished simultaneously, substantially as set forth.

\VILLIAM E. ADAMS;

rolls 9 h, the shaft ofrollh, having slidingjoun nal-boxes provided with springs j. in combination with the adjustingpiece t, provided with wedge-shaped projections acting in reversely-inclined slots in the frame, and an ad justin'g-screw whereby, by moving the piece 1', the pressure of the rolls may be increased or diminished, substantially as set forth.

6. In a leather splitting machine, the coml Witnesses:

WM. A. MAOLEOD, ROBERT WALLACE. 

